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Griffey Saga Coming To An End….In Seattle
Written by Jonathan on February 18, 2009 – 8:58 pmThe saga of where Ken Griffey Jr. is going to end up for the 2009 season has taken its latest turn and it appears that Griffey will now be heading back to Seattle where he began his career. Griffey has been dwelling on the decision between the Braves and Mariners for a couple of days. Atlanta provided some benefits that would allow him to be close to family and play for Bobby Cox, but Griffey has felt some loyalty and attraction to the fans and Mariners organization that made the decision a difficult one. Sources report that Griffey’s contract with the Mariners will be for $2 million base with up to $4 million in other incentives.
The story behind where Griffey would end up has taken many turns over the past couple of days. As we reported yesterday, it appeared that everything was in place to see Griffey here in Atlanta for the upcoming season. After that news broke however, he contacted MLB.com to inform them that he had not yet made a final decision on where he would be playing. From that point on, everything started to shift back in the direction of playing in Seattle. I don’t think that that really had much bearing on the decision, just goes to show that things aren’t final until all is said and done, as we’ve learned multiple times this offseason.
As we know, nothing is definite until the paper is signed and the money is on the table, but all signs point that the deal is done for Griffey to head back to the Mariners. What do we do at this point? I don’t think this is going to break us or change much on our season outlook, but it puts a few more unknowns back in the outfield. What’s best for the Braves to do now? Stick young talent in the outfield or try to make a different acquisition? I know we were excited about the prospect of having Griffey here in Atlanta, but it’s time to move on.
Tags: Griffey Signs with Braves, Griffey Signs with Seattle, Griffey To Braves, Griffey To Mariners, Ken Griffey Jr., Seattle Mariners
Posted in Roster Moves, Speculation | 13 Comments »
By Brent on Feb 19, 2009 | Reply
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I don't even know what to say, I wish he never contacted the Braves. It stinks because I don't want to be upset about this when we have new players I should be excited about. I can't help being extremely disappointed though.
By dave on Feb 19, 2009 | Reply
I have been reserving my thoughts until I knew for sure. I only hope that this was not another Rafael Furcal saga. If it is I will lose all respect for MR. Griffey. I have lost some respect already, being older myself family means more to me now than it ever has. MR. Griffey is old enough to have some perspective in life, and if playing closer to home where he could be involved more in his kids activities he should have taken the opportunity. It will not come along again. The Braves will survive, and might be better off for it. I'm a little disappointed for the Braves and their fans I am more disappointed for MR. Griffey for not taking advantage of the opportunity to play close to home. Let us move on it's been a crazy off season. Let's see what the young kids can do. Best Wishes To All And GO BRAVES
By Jonathan on Feb 19, 2009 | Reply
I don't think this was another Furcal situation at all. In that case, there was an actual exchange of verbal agreement and term sheets. Here was all source/meda speculation. It's just how it works sometimes. We'll move on just fine and he can finish his career back out west.
By RueGrant on Feb 19, 2009 | Reply
I'm pretty disappointed, as I know everyone is. I know for a fact that some of our young prospects were really looking forward to the leadership and guidance that Griffey would have provided and I'm sure this is quite a disappointment to them as well. This turn of events, although seemingly sudden, is likely what is best for Griffey and his family. We do not know the whole story, nor should we speculate. I just hold him to a much higher standard than I do most other players, so I am doing my best to reserve judgment and respect his decision. I will admit to feeling very let down, though. However, if anyone blames Frank Wren, I'm challenging them to a cage match.
I'm meaner than I look. Maybe.
By Larry on Feb 19, 2009 | Reply
Well, now it is time to let Schaefer, Anderson, and B. Jones battle out for the last two outfield spots. We have good young talent, no need to make a move now. Let's see what July brings. Griffey can finish his career the way the started it…without a ring!
By josh on Feb 19, 2009 | Reply
Well after listening to Chipper on 790 the zone ten minutes ago he said “I wish he wouldn’t have wasted our time". He sounded upset and also noted" Griffey would have made us to left handed heavy anyway". I’m not putting this one on Frank Wren.
Mr. "kid" obviously chose hero worship over a chance to win and that is simply sad. I also think that once the ajc reported Griffey was a done deal the city was buzzing. My only concern is we use to get these deals done with little effort because players wanted to play here. How could we have lost that so suddenly? Well let’s reload and get in touch with Anderson. I’m sure he knows by now he wasn’t our 3rd 4th or 5th pick.
By dave on Feb 19, 2009 | Reply
After reading what Josh wrote, I am like Chipper I think time was wasted. MY I go one step farther we were used again, by a player I think all along had no intention of signing with the Braves. When day after day went by I became more suspicious he was not coming to Atlanta. I read he and his agent became cold toward Frank, and the organization when a report by ajc came out. If MR. Griffey is so sensitive we did not need him anyway. I thought he could handle the media by now. I want to applaud Derek Lowe, and Kenshin Kawakami, and I believe Javier Vasquez for wanting to play for Atlanta. These men are bright spots to an otherwise roller coaster ride of an off season. I am glad to read that Jeff and Kelly avoided arbitration this is very positive. I think it is time to forget about names like Griffey, Furcal, Burnett, Peavy, and the one that hurts the most John Smoltz, and look to the future it has great potential,. More than I have saw in a long time. Best Wishes And GO BRAVES!!!
By Jack Belcher on Feb 19, 2009 | Reply
This has been the worst off season I can remember. I think a few things play into this disappointing off season. One is that the Braves are in the middle of a reconstructing process on all levels.We don't have a center fielder, left fielder , a legitimate ace, a real lead off hitter or a future replacement for Bobby Cox. Of all the problems I believe that the biggest of the five I mentioned is Bobby Cox.
I know Frank Wren is taken alot of the heat for these problems but it is much deeper than that. Things really started to change for us when Ted Turner sold the team. Things were different back then. We had an owner that was enthusiastic, building a team to beat in the division, Bobby Cox had years ahead of him to manage and John Schurholtz was making a name for himself.
Oh yes , things have changed. Our Braves do not have that nostalgia we once had to lure people to play in Atlanta. The worst is, I hate to see Chipper Jones go though the tough times like Dale Murphy did years ago. A great player on a team that will be doing good to finish 500.
By Dan from MD on Feb 19, 2009 | Reply
It definately has been a disappointing offseason, but such is life. I feel bad for Griffey's kids – he had a chance to play close to home and see his kids do what they love. Who knows why he did what he did, but its got to be disappointing for them.
As for where the Braves go from here, I say let the kids play. It's not ideal, but neither is getting burned by another trade or free agent debacle. Realistically we are a long-shot wild card team, so lets get the kids some experience, save some money and prospects so we can be ready for the next few years and beyond.
We are all guilty of wanting instant success, but when JS and Wren tried that patchwork recently we just mortgaged key parts of our future. Let's hang in there, support the Braves despite our front office and ownership misgivings and work towards a brighter future.
By Larry on Feb 19, 2009 | Reply
This team is much above a .500. We have very good young players on this team. I think another team had similar type line up (Rays). KJ and Escobar are ready to break out and Kotchman is not as bad as people think. There was a reason the Braves asked for him. Maybe cuz hes a gold glove 1B and was second on the Angels in RBI's with 60+ at all star break. He had it tough when he got here when his mom fell ill. The young braves will prove a lot of people wrong. I don't no that we can win the division but I think we can get the wild card
By Daria Del Colliano on Feb 19, 2009 | Reply
Honestly this Griffey saga smells fishy. It reeks of the Rafael Furcal blunder earlier this off-season. How many free agents are going to spurn the Braves? I have never seen anything like this. Credible websites like the AJC reporting first that Furcal was going to sign with the Braves then reporting that a source close to Griffey has the star outfielder picking Atlanta… and neither both proved false, with neither player indeed signing with the Braves. I understand that mistakes are made and maybe players do have a last minute change of heart but as a fan it's really deflating.
I don't fault Griffey for choosing to go back to Seattle and try to re-create the magic from his glory days there and trying to solidify his legacy. The issue I have with him is calling Chipper Jones, expressing a desire to player for the Braves and asking Chipper to make it known to Frank Wren and Braves management that he was interested in playing here. Why reach out to a team and express your fondness for the organization, manager and city and make it seem like you want to be a Brave if, all along, the desire within was to finish where you began.
I'm sorry I think it's unprofessional and I think the Braves are actually better off for it. We don't want a player like that, especially at his age at this stage of his career with all the injury concerns, who's going to not be loyal and representative of this team. Move on, Wren. Move on, Braves. We'll find our LF'er elsewhere.
By Jack Belcher on Feb 19, 2009 | Reply
I don't think so Larry. There is a lot of good teams ahead of us with seasoned talent @ the major league level. The talent we posses have seasoned themselves @ a minor league level only. This is the majors and it's not for everyone. I mean if everything was based on young talent then I can list a number of teams that has had that claim within their own organizations the past couple of years and today they still suck. The Rays had a good year. Really it was a great year. But if injuries did not happen to the Red Sox and the Yankees like they did last year, we would still be laughing @ the Rays today.
By daniel_a_fisher on Feb 19, 2009 | Reply
Here's my crazy solution for a leadoff bat and additional outfield depth.
Sign Orlando Hudson (Type-A Free Agent)
Move Kelly Johnson to LF platoon.
While you lose a first-round pick, and his non-guarenteed success. There are now two gold glove caliber defenders on the right side of the infield, and have a better hitting option in the outfield. You also have a strong lead-off candidate in Hudson. Johnson is not a starting player in my opinion. .280, 10,60 does not do much for me when he can't steal a base. I do like his bat enough to take time away from Diaz and Francoeur. Prado becomes the backup 2B/SS.
It won't happen, but it's something I would explore if I were calling the shots.